Copiapo

TWO 9,300-TEU ships, built by Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries are to become the largest vessels in the fleet of Chilean shipping company, CSAV. The vessels were named the Copiapo and the Cautin, at the South Korean shipyard in a ceremony attended by CSAV chairman Francisco Perez Mackenna and CEO Oscar Hasbun. The carrier has seven 9,300-TEU ships on order that will replace chartered vessels and raise the proportion of its owned fleet to 50 per cent, reported Seatrade Global. "The integration of these vessels is part of the company's restructuring, which includes an increase on its own fleet. In this context the company made a significant capital injection for the acquisition of assets," said Mr Hasbun. The Copiapo will be delivered on November 26 and will start operations in Shanghai on the trade between Asia and the Middle East, while the Cautin will be received on December 18 and will be deployed on the service linking ports in northern Europe with the east coast of South America.